Sharing our Spiritual Treasures

This leaflet is offered as a way of helping Christians to share and grow in the faith. It is offered alongside its sister leaflet Gifts from the Treasure Trove.

We recommend most strongly that you download this as a leaflet (link under the graphic). At the very least, facilitators should ensure that group members have a copy of the text under the headings of 'the meeting' and 'guidelines' below, and this can be helpful when inviting people to the meeting. Be aware that though this leaflet is deceptively simple, the process it describes is disproportionately effective and valuable.

Sharing our Spiritual Treasures

An opportunity for Christians meeting together to:

Share stories and experience

Appreciate our different traditions

Find nourishment for our faith

Seek God in all things

The meeting

Bring to the meeting something which is significant for you, and which you want to share. It may be:

An actual object – important for itself or for the memories it evokes

A verse or two from the Bible

A hymn, a poem, or a piece of music

A photograph or picture

A memory of a person or event

Say why the contribution you have brought is important to you. (Share only what you want to.)

Listen to other people without comment.

Reflect on the spiritual treasures that people have shared. Have any of them chimed with your experiences, or have they been different?

Consider, as a group, whether you would like to meet again for other opportunities to share your faith journeys. Some suggestions are given below.

Guidelines

As this touches on personal experiences, it is essential that the group understands and accepts the guidelines.

Create a warm, friendly, expectant atmosphere. A focal point may be helpful – perhaps the objects brought by the group.

Agree together the timing and length of the meeting. Ensure each person has time to speak.

Encourage people to contribute as and when they feel appropriate and agree to keep confidentiality.

Let the group listen and receive what is said in silence: remind people that this is not a discussion.

After everyone has spoken, there may be silent or shared reflection.

Allow time for the group to consider whether it would like to meet again.

Who?

Sharing our Spiritual Treasures, although intended for ecumenical groups, may also be used by groups from a particular church. You may wish to invite others who would value this way of sharing.

The group, ideally of 6-8 people, could be one which meets regularly but need not be.

Why?

To share the rich variety of spiritual experiences within and beyond the churches.

Some suggestions for future meetings

A Bible Study on Matthew 13.44-46 (the treasure hidden in a field, and the pearl of great price).

A session looking at the meaning of words such as faith, spirituality, mission, prayer, witness to help each other explore and deepen our relationship with God.

Spend time together in prayer, silence or a Quiet Day.

How has Sharing our Spiritual Treasures deepened your understanding of a faith which embraces the whole of life?

Sharing our Spiritual Treasures is offered to local churches as a way of encouraging their members to share and grow in the faith. It was prepared by the Churches Spirituality Co-ordinating Group, which used to exist to encourage member churches to explore, discover, affirm and share their spiritual traditions and current practices.